As Nation Mourns Former Vice President, His Multiple Visits to Northeastern Pennsylvania Remembered

WASHINGTON/NEPA — As dignitaries gathered Thursday for the funeral of former Vice President Dick Cheney at Washington National Cathedral, residents of Northeastern Pennsylvania may recall the multiple times the influential Republican visited the region during his political career.

Cheney, who died at age 84 from complications of pneumonia and cardiac disease, made several campaign stops throughout NEPA during the crucial 2004 presidential election—bringing his granddaughters along for bus tours through the battleground state.

The 2004 Pennsylvania Campaign Trail

Vice President Cheney and his wife Lynne, often accompanied by granddaughters Kate, Elizabeth, and Grace, traversed Pennsylvania extensively during the Bush-Cheney ’04 reelection campaign. Their Pennsylvania itinerary included multiple stops in NEPA communities:

Wilkes-Barre: Cheney held a Bush-Cheney ’04 town hall meeting at Wilkes University’s Arnaud C. Marts Sports and Conference Center, addressing local residents in Luzerne County.

Hazleton: The Cheneys made an unannounced stop at the town square in Hazleton, also in Luzerne County, connecting with voters during their bus tour.

Pottsville: A Victory ’04 rally was held at Pottsville Area High School’s Martz Hall in Schuylkill County.

Bloomsburg: The Cheneys held a Bush-Cheney ’04 rally at Bloomsburg University’s Nelson Field House in Columbia County.

Williamsport: After touring the Peter J. McGovern Little League Museum and watching Little League World Series games, Cheney made an unannounced stop at a local McDonald’s, where he ordered a grilled chicken salad.

Other Stops: The campaign tour included unannounced visits to roadside farm stands, including one run by Ray Levan in Catawissa, showcasing the more personal, retail-politics side of the typically formal vice president.

Why Pennsylvania Mattered

Pennsylvania’s status as a crucial swing state made it a frequent stop for both Bush and Cheney during the 2004 campaign. The northeastern region, with its mix of working-class voters, coal country roots, and suburban communities, represented key demographics the campaign sought to win over.

The Bush-Cheney ticket ultimately carried Pennsylvania in their reelection bid, though the state would flip back to Democrats in subsequent elections.

A Political Legacy

Born in Nebraska and raised in Wyoming, Cheney served as:

• White House Chief of Staff under Gerald Ford (at age 34, the youngest ever)
• Wyoming Congressman (six terms)
• Secretary of Defense under George H.W. Bush (overseeing the Persian Gulf War)
• CEO of Halliburton (1995-2000)
• Vice President under George W. Bush (2001-2009)

Widely regarded as one of the most powerful and influential vice presidents in American history, Cheney was both praised for his experience and criticized for his hawkish foreign policy positions, particularly his advocacy for the Iraq War.

The Later Years and Pennsylvania

In more recent years, Cheney’s daughter, Liz Cheney, maintained Pennsylvania connections through her political work. The former Wyoming congresswoman, who broke with Donald Trump following the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack, campaigned in Pennsylvania during the 2024 election cycle, including appearances in Montgomery County and endorsing Democratic Rep. Susan Wild in the Lehigh Valley’s 7th Congressional District race.

Both Dick and Liz Cheney voted for Vice President Kamala Harris over Donald Trump in 2024, marking a dramatic split with their party’s nominee.

Thursday’s Funeral

Former Presidents George W. Bush and Joe Biden attended Thursday’s funeral service at Washington National Cathedral. Notably absent was former President Donald Trump, reflecting the deep rift between Trump and the Cheney family over his election denial and the events of January 6.

The funeral drew a mix of Republicans and Democrats, befitting Cheney’s decades-long career in Washington and his evolution from partisan warrior to defender of democratic institutions in his final years.

For NEPA residents who remember his campaign stops—whether at Wilkes University, grabbing lunch at a Williamsport McDonald’s, or buying produce at a Columbia County roadside stand—Cheney represented an era of more traditional Republican politics and the importance Pennsylvania held in national elections.

His family released a statement saying: “Dick Cheney was a great and good man who taught his children and grandchildren to love our country, and to live lives of courage, honor, love, kindness, and fly fishing.”

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Dick Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States from 2001 to 2009. He died November 4, 2025, at age 84.